With their expertise, SAAC helps ensure that OAR’s work is inclusive, supportive, and centered on improving quality of life. OAR welcomes applications from prospective council members. Anyone interested in serving on OAR’s Self-Advocate Advisory Council should contact OAR Executive Director, Kristen Essex, via e-mail, or phone, (703) 243-9717
Deborah Hammer
Chair
Autism & Low Incidence Specialist, Arlington Public Schools
Arlington, VA
Deborah is the inaugural chair of OAR’s Self-Advocate Advisory Council, having been a volunteer and contributing writer for OAR for many years. She has worked professionally for more than thirty years as and advocate and educator for neurodivergent students; for the last fifteen she has been in Arlington Public Schools.
She has spoken at numerous national and international conferences trainings on a variety of topics, including self-determination skills, student-centered IEPs and transition plans, interdependence, and how to implement inclusive programming for people with disabilities at State and National Parks.
Deborah is an appointed Disability Services Board member with her local government and served as chair for three terms. She is a member of the Virginia Autism Council and the Virginia Autism Leadership Initiative. Deborah chaired the Northern Virginia Transition Coalition and founded the Cool Aspies, a social club for neurodivergent adults. In her free time, she is a Virginia Master Naturalist and an active volunteer and board member of Bat Conservation and Rescue of Virginia.
“The creation of the Self-Advocate Advisory Council demonstrates OAR’s commitment to hearing from authentic autistic voices in their goal of having a meaningful impact on the autism community.”
―Deborah Hammer
Shea Belsky
Tech Lead II, HubSpot
Greater Boston Area, MA
Shea Belsky is an autistic self-advocate and speaker, specializing in improving equity to employment opportunities and growth for autistic individuals. He is a Tech Lead II at HubSpot, and the former Chief Technology Officer of Mentra. Mentra was backed by Sam Altman in 2022 and Shine Capital & Verissimo Ventures in 2023, and its impact to connect neurodivergent jobseekers with gainful employment was featured by Microsoft, Disability:IN, and TechCrunch.
Shea graduated from Cornell University in 2018 with his Bachelors of Science and Masters of Professional Studies in Information Science. His previous work history includes Wayfair, Google, and IBM, where he has championed accessibility and disability inclusion throughout his career journey. Shea is also a proud mentor for Superpower Mentors, an organization connecting neurodivergent youth with peer mentors and life coaches. Shea is thrilled to have previously worked with the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity as a mentor and group facilitator.
Shea has championed neurodiversity for organizations like Novartis, the Kennedy Krieger Institute, Northeastern University, in addition to being featured in Forbes and the New York Post. He’s appeared on numerous podcasts regarding technology, leadership, and neurodiversity. Shea is eager to bring his experiences to OAR’s Self-Advocate Advisory Council and is thankful for his wife, family, and friends for supporting him on his journey!
Laurie Williams George, MAT
Teaching Fellow, University of North Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Laurie George is a former teacher pursuing her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. As a mother, advocate, and late-diagnosed autistic woman, she brings a personal, systems-oriented perspective to autism research, emphasizing developmentally respectful and strength-based approaches across the lifespan.
A graduate of the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities Partners in Policymaking program, Laurie serves on the Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities. She first discovered OAR while seeking resources for her child’s teachers and siblings, and later for herself! Laurie joined the Self-Advocate Advisory Council to bring awareness of autistic adults as they navigate middle adulthood and beyond.
“There are many women just beginning to learn about their diagnosis, and it’s incredibly powerful. It can bring relief and clarity, but also new questions about navigating life’s big moments: parenting, relationships, loss, and friendship, as an autistic woman. They go looking for answers and find that nothing is there. I want to help change that.”
―Laurie George
Ember Glowing
Ember Glowing is a queer autistic artist and lifelong learner with a deep love of plants and the natural world. As a multiply marginalized individual navigating several complex illnesses and invisible disabilities, including ADHD, dyscalculia, lipedema, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Ember brings a valuable perspective on accessibility, inclusion, and lived experiences.
A passionate creator and advocate, Ember combines their artistic expression with a commitment to disability awareness and representation.
“I joined OAR’s SAAC to help develop practices for individuals and institutions that help improve the daily lives of people with autism, using what I’ve learned through survivorship, adaptation, and research to help others thrive.“ – Ember Glowing
Antonio Myers
Washington, D.C
Antonio Myers is a Washington, D.C. native and proud neurodiverse advocate dedicated to advancing inclusion and empowerment for uniquely abled persons. He brings a lifelong commitment to education, leadership, and service to OAR’s Self-Advocate Advisory Council.
Antonio graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Human Services and a minor in Psychology and was a commencement speaker at both ages 14 and 23. A high school valedictorian with a perfect GPA, he was recognized for academic and extracurricular excellence, earning awards in English, Chemistry, track, basketball, and softball. During high school, he also received a signed commendation for academic honors from President Barack Obama.
Antonio has worked for several high-profile organizations, including St. John’s Community Services, where he was named to the board at age 21. He is also a designated disability services provider by the D.C. Department on Disability Services. In 2020, Mayor Muriel Bowser appointed him to the District of Columbia State Rehabilitation Council (SRC), which advises the D.C. Rehabilitation Services Administration on programs and policies that support residents with special needs seeking vocational services.
In addition to his professional achievements, Antonio is an international traveler and continues to serve as a full-time advocate for neurodivergent and uniquely abled individuals. His work focuses on legislative advocacy and community engagement in partnership with neurodiversity-focused organizations.
“I decided to get involved with OAR because I support neurodiversity empowerment. My priorities at OAR are to advance the Autism rights movement and to seek evidence centered solutions that improve daily living for communities like mine.” – Antonio Myers
Rachel Pickett
Consultant, Aidan Products
Dallas, TX
Rachel Pickett joined the Organization for Autism Research’s (OAR) Self-Advocate Advisory Council (SAAC) during a transitional stage in her life, following a late autism diagnosis in her early 30s. Drawing from her personal experiences navigating the mental health system, she is passionate about helping the field evolve to better recognize the diverse presentations of autism and more effectively meet the support needs of the autistic community.
Her professional background centers on operations and strategy, with an emphasis on process improvement. Over the course of her career, she has supported and led organizations in areas spanning program management, compliance, mergers and acquisitions, internal communications, marketing, and business development. She has held several key roles, including Director of Corporate Development, Chief of Staff to the COO and CEO, and Marketing Manager.
Currently, Rachel consults for a small supplement company while transitioning her career toward the mental health field. She also advises Tabia Health, providing insights on autism to support the healthcare AI start-up’s pilot program in Brazil, which helps practitioners manage care for autistic patients.
Rachel earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in environmental studies from Macalester College in 2015. She is pursuing her Master of Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington and applying to psychology Ph.D. programs. Her goal is to advance person-centered autism research and promote earlier, neurodiversity-affirming, and contextually responsive evaluations that capture the full range of autistic experiences as well as the nuanced mental-health challenges that may co-occur. Her long-term aspiration is to contribute to the field as an empathetic and curious diagnostician.
“I am honored to be part of the OAR community and a member of the Self-Advocate Advisory Council. I am thrilled to contribute to OAR’s mission of applying evidence-based research to improve the everyday lives of autistic people. Through self-advocacy, volunteering, and collaboration, I hope to help OAR and SAAC continue fostering inclusion and a deeper understanding of neurodiversity in our society.”
―Rachel Pickett
